Pleated sheet article holder

ABSTRACT

Sheets of plastic material are formed with pleats therein having slots laterally disposed across the pleats to isolate selected sections thereof. When the sheets are subject to compression transverse to the pleats, the pleats are forced against each other so that articles may frictionally be held therebetween.

United States Patent Patented Feb. 23, 1971 Appl. No. Filed PLEATED SHEET ARTICLE HOLDER 3 Claims, 16 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 211/120; 140; 206/75 Int. Cl 365d 1/34, G09f 7/08 Field ofSearch 211/120, 69.8; 206/76, 75, 72, .84, .8, .82, .83; 312/126; 40/140 ill Nllll I Primary Examiner-Ramon S. Britts Attorney-Alter Weiss & Whitesel ABSTRACT: Sheets of plastic material are formed with pleats therein having slots laterally disposed across the pleats to isolate selected sections thereof. When the sheets are subject to compression transverse to the pleats, the pleats are forced against each other so that articles may frictionally be held therebetween.

PLEATEI) SHEET ARTICLEIIOLDER My invention relates to sheets formed with pleats therein.

, These sheets are a fabricated form of plastic material, or the like, and more particularly are pleated or folded sheets for retaining articles frictionally when the articles are forced between the folds of the sheets.

The prime object of my invention is to provide a sheet of plastic material, or the like, formed into a plurality of radial members, that may be compressed to have the radial portions of the members engage one another.

Another object of my invention is to provide a folded or pleated sheet of plastic material of the character described, that consists of pliable but rigid material, to enable separation of the folded portions, when a rigid portion, or device, is forced between the pleats.

Still another object of my invention is to provide slots laterally disposed in the folded portions of the sheets to permit individual sections of the folds to be spread, one from the other, without efi'ecting the remaining folds.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a folded sheet that may be of any length or width, and may be economically formed or extruded in a continuous manner.

Obviously the plastic sheet may be formed into any form, shape or contour, angular or radial.

By referring to the drawings and description, it will become apparent that the sheet of pliable plastic material may be formed to provide a radial portion, to be compressed to a point where the radially formed portions will frictionally engage one another to frictionally retain articles that are forced between them.

It is manifest to anyone familiar with the art that the folded sheets may be compressed and encased into a frame, or the like, to form a bulletin board. It may also be encased within a box, or container to retain jewelry, fishing lures, or the like or it may be made a part of the wall or bottom of a purse or handbag for retaining coins, or the like, where they will be readily accessible for the convenience of the user.

Other and further objects of my invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: I

FIG. I is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the formed plastic sheet, constituting my invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a portion of the formed plastic sheet,

folded as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is'a cross-sectional view of thefolded plastic material, or sheet as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in a compressed position; a

FIG. 4 is a top view of a portion of the compressed sheet as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is -a top view of the slotted'compressed sheet asshown in FIG. with a coin forced between sections of the folded sheet; v

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of a conventional bulletin board" in perspective, showing a letter of the alphabet forced into position;

FIG. 10 is another view of a fragmentary portion of a "bulletin board" with the folded sheet in a compressed position, with letters of the alphabet frictionally forced therein;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a container constituting a jewelry box, showing a fring" forced therein and retained in position between the folds of the plastic sheet;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a modified formed sheet angularly disposed;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the modified sheet shown in FIG. 12, in a compressed state, holding an article;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of another modified sheet havin flat surfaces;

FIG 15 is a cross-sectional view of the modified flat type sheet in a compressed position; and

FIG. 16 is still another cross-sectional view of another modified form, with a flat bottom surface, and in a compressed form.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts and features throughout the several views, and referring now to the same, the character I0 shows a sheet of plastic material. which may be opaque or transparent, and either extruded, or formed in any efficient manner. In FIGS. 1 and 2, I show it radially formed at 11 and when compressed as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the radially formed sections 11 contact one another, as at 12. When held in a compressed position, unit members (as for example the unit shown as 13 in FIG. 7 which is equipped with prongs 14) may have integral prongs l4 forced between the folded sections and frictionally retained thereby.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, I show the sheet 10 having the radially formed sections 11 slotted, as at 15, to permit individual sections 16 to spread (see FIG. 8) when the coil, or a like, shown as 17 is forced between them.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 I show a partial perspective view ofa conventional bulletin board, having a frame I8 supporting the compressed sheet 10 and alphabetic letters, or the like shown as 19, may be placed in position as shown and frictionally retained as in FIG. 7 by the compressed sheet I0.

If desired, a portion of the compressed sheet I0 may be disposed onto the bottom of a container 20, such as a jewelry box as shown in FIG. 11 and a ring 21, or the like, may he forced between the folds of the compressed sheet 10. Or. the container 20 may also be used to support fishing lures with hooks or the like (now shown).

Obviously the forming or folding of the sheet 10 may be varied as shown in FIGS. 12 to 16 inclusive. The form shown in FIG. 12 is of an angular contour at 22. When compressed, as shown in FIG. 13, the points contact one another, as at 23. This is also true when the folds have a flat surface 24 as shown in open position in FIG. 14 and in a compressed form in FIG. 15.

Another modified form is shown in FIG. 16 which has the radial portions 11 at the top and a flat surface 25 at the bottom.

From the above description it will become apparent that the sheet I0 may be formed or extruded in many inexpensive ways. Also, the sheet may be made in sheets of varied dimensions for use in varied ways. The compressing of the folded sheet provides the operativeness, namely to retain frictionally any object forced between the folds.

Although I have shown specific ways of construction and arrangement ofthe features, I am fully cognizant ofthe fact that many changes may be made without effecting the operativeness of the device, and I reserve the rights to make such changes as I may deem convenient or necessary without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the claims.

Iclaim:

1. An article holder Comprising at least one single sheet of pliable but rigid material:

said sheet formed into a plurality of pleats, wherein slots are laterally disposed entirely across said pleats to an inward extent corresponding to a substantial portion of the depth 7 of said pleats, thereby isolating selected sections of said pleats; and means compressing said pleats-into frictional engagement with one another whereby a retaining frictional force is exerted on articles placed between consecutive ones of said pleats. 2. The article holder of claim I wherein said means for compressing said pleats comprises means surrounding said sheet.

3. The article holder of claim 1 wherein said pleats comprise radial top and bottom portions. 

1. An article holder comprising at least one single sheet of pliable but rigid material: said sheet formed into a plUrality of pleats, wherein slots are laterally disposed entirely across said pleats to an inward extent corresponding to a substantial portion of the depth of said pleats, thereby isolating selected sections of said pleats; and means compressing said pleats into frictional engagement with one another whereby a retaining frictional force is exerted on articles placed between consecutive ones of said pleats.
 2. The article holder of claim 1 wherein said means for compressing said pleats comprises means surrounding said sheet.
 3. The article holder of claim 1 wherein said pleats comprise radial top and bottom portions. 